Representatives of seven classification societies recently met at Høvik to establish the Naval Ship Classification Association - NSCA. The main objective of this military counterpart to IACS is to co-operate in areas related to the effectiveness and safe operation of naval ships. A working relationship with NATO’s Naval Armaments Group is being developed with the aim of NSCA, in consultation with NATO navies, developing a naval interpretation of SOLAS. The members of NSCA are drawn from classification societies domiciled in NATO countries. DNV’s Terje Staalstrøm was elected as the first Chairman of the Association, with Kåre Lindemann as Secretary.

"I have been following closely DNV's increasing engagement in naval business", says Staalstrøm, "and am convinced that Class has a role to play in the design, construction and operation of naval vessels in peace time. DNV was the first classification society to seriously look at this market. We established our Naval Surface Craft Committee four years ago and published the first classification society rules for naval craft in July 1999. Creating an umbrella organisation, in the shape of NSCA, had become a necessity supported by NATO itself." As one of his first tasks as Chairman, Staalstrøm will present the benefits of classification in the naval industry at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. "There is no equivalent to IMO in the naval world and we will therefore deal directly with the individual NATO navies which act as both Flag States and shipowners. An interesting and challenging combination of roles, in which DNV can advise on how to avoid mixing them."